Whether it’s truly safe to fly has been a recurring question since the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread earlier this year. Airlines responded with enhanced cleaning techniques, state of the art HEPA filters, mask requirements and the risk of being banned, as Delta Airlines has put in place, if you refuse to wear one, scaled down meal and drink service to minimize the time those masks are off, staff outfitted in hospital grade personal protective equipment. Recently the travel protocol database Safe Travel Barometer from Safe Travel Technologies compiled and released the results of 230 airlines’ efforts from an independent audit of 26 health and safety parameters evaluating safety protocols, traveler convenience and service excellence announced by airlines. None reached the perfect score of 5 but Emirates earned the highest rating, a 4.4.
Apart from the enhanced cleaning procedures and other safety protocols, the airline also took first place in traveler confidence as the first in the industry to introduce free, global COVID-19 cover for medical and quarantine expenses, and due to its revised booking policies offering customers more flexibility and confidence while planning their travels. Medical expenses of up to EUR 150,000 (about $177,500 USD) and quarantine costs of EUR 100 (about $118 USD) per day for 14 days will be covered if passengers are diagnosed with COVID-19 during their travel while they are away from home. Emirates’ booking policies also offer customers flexibility and confidence to plan their travel. Customers have options to change their travel dates,or extend their ticket validity for two years. In addition, the airline launched initiatives to help its Emirates Skywards members retain their tier status and introduced new ways for them to earn and spend their miles.
After Emirates, 19 other airlines scored above 4, generally dovetailing with their usual service reputations. Regional competitors Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways were next with 4.3 and 4.2 respectively, followed by a group rating 4.1 including Singapore Airlines, Delta Airlines, Iberia, Vistara, the Indian airline partly owned by Singapore Airlines, Air France, Air China, Lufthansa and Oman Air. Rounding out the top group with a score of 4 are Virgin Atlantic, Southwest Airlines, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, IndiGo, EVA Air, Asiana Airlines, Qantas Airways and Garuda Indonesia.
Other major airlines deemed above average and acceptable with scores of 3.5-3.9 include Finnair, Air Tahiti, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Aer Lingus, SWISS Airlines, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Thai Airways, Air India, Alaska Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and United Airlines. South African Airways, Fiji Airways, Icelandair, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and Aeromexico scored just below in the 3-3.5 rating as below average but acceptable. In the group at the bottom: Aegean Airlines and Norwegian Air came in with a low score of 2.6. Republic Airlines was deemed risky at 1.5. Five airlines were described as dangerous with a rating of 0.1-0.9: Endeavor, Go Jet Airlines, Horizon Air, Nesma Airlines and Air Caledonie.
